Zionist Organization Embarking on Expansion Drive, Goldmann Announces

June 16, 1960

JERUSALEM (Jun. 15)

Dr. Nahum Goldmann announced at a press conference here today that the World Zionist Organization, with the full support of the Government of Israel, will embark on a campaign to opt Jewish communities and non-Zionist groups into the world Zionist movement.

The first results of the campaign, he said, would be evident at the 25th World Zionist Congress which will be convened in Jerusalem December 27. He reported that organizations from all continents would have contingents at the Congress as full, associate or fraternal members. Some major organizations in the United States have indicated their readiness to send fraternal delegations, he stated. With a large periphery of organizations on behalf of millions of Jews who are not Zionists. Dr. Goldmann said, the World Zionist Congress will assume the aspect of a general Jewish Congress.

The “Zionist offensive” would be spearheaded at a specially convened Congress of American Zionists in the United States on November 17, Dr. Goldmann reported. To demonstrate Israel’s support, a large and important delegation of Cabinet Ministers and other Israel leaders will attend the Congress, he revealed. He said that all Jewish communities in Latin America had already pledged support and will send delegations to the World Zionist Congress as associate members. They will have the right to participate in committee sessions and discussions but no voting rights.

The President of the World Zionist Organization stressed the importance of the unanimous decision reached at a meeting of Government leaders and Jewish Agency executive members which reaffirmed the exclusivity of the Zionist movement in Israel on Jewish efforts in the areas of immigration, absorption and settlement. In reply to a question, he said 20,000 to 25,000 immigrants were expected to arrive in Israel this year.